Sunday for me is generally a day for reflection and, given my now senior years, there is much that I can look back on.
Reflecting on happenings in the Solomon Islands these last few weeks, I read of the Prime Ministers visits to Tikopia, Isabel and more recently to Central Islands Province.
A common theme from all three visits was the prominence the Prime Minister gave to the call for national unity and infrastructure development to promote economic activities which, in turn, would enhance the national economy.
A flag raising ceremony outside the Prime Minister’s office building on 1 July was also used as an occasion to raise awareness of the need for national unity.
On the eve of Solomon Islands 43 rd day of Independence I feel somewhat sad that national unity is seemingly not a fact of life today.
My honest reaction is simply to say “Count your blessings.” Why I say this is founded on the fact that despite the differing customs and cultures there is to be seen unity in diversity as perceived by many that take advantage of accessing my website and reading for themselves the happenings and events taking place in the Solomon Islands every day.
The country is blessed with many natural resources, beautiful islands and places to visit, reliable and supportive development partners, a free press, an independent judiciary, freedom of religion and a Constitution that safeguards and protects the freedoms and rights of all.
Yes, there are many problems to be resolved and corruption, unequal infrastructure development, health service provisioning, unemployment, gender equality, the needs of the disabled, agricultural development, domestic and family violence and limited exports being just a few of the issues to be tackled and resolved. Given a principled and democratic government I very much hope they will all be addressed. Removing corruption will give added confidence to diplomatic partners to aid their support and one might then see the tangible results long awaited.
The world is still in the grips of coronavirus and this has brought economic disaster and deaths in many countries. The Solomon Islands is one of the very few nations to be free of Covid-19 and a measure of the right protective measures and enforcement, aided extensively my many of its diplomatic friends and international agencies. In Fiji the situation is different with Covid infections on the rise and several people dying from the virus before getting to a hospital. Many people are also short of food and have become reliant on handouts.
In Papua New Guinea the incidence of Covid infections remains high with just a hint the overall infection rate is lowering.
I have written several time most recently how I have perceived community policing playing a significant part in aiding community support for the measures being taken on border security and on the Covid prevention strategy. In 1997 when community policing policy was first introduced there was a proliferation of weapons held by the police but my approach to community support and unity was not through the use of force, and certainly not by armed force, but by passive policing methods which community policing brought about.
In 1997 I could count my blessings on having the police band that featured significantly in early community policing activities and I told the Truth and Reconciliation Commission when questioned on police weaponry that the best weapons in my armoury was the police band.
As of today, I say to all in the Solomon Islands, count your blessings, climb every mountain, ford every stream and attain your dreams together.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
